(Valley Forge, Pa.) – When CJ Architects designed The Cottages at Forest Ridge, a new residential development with classic curb appeal in Exeter, N.H., they looked to CertainTeed vinyl siding and polymer shake products for exterior cladding inspiration.

Commissioned by Chinburg Builders, of Durham, N.H., the architectural firm crafted designs for eight two-story, single-family homes in a style similar to early 1900s cottage homes built in the Chicago suburbs. A different take on the traditional New England cottage, the designs allow for large lower-level walkouts, with garage access from the rear by way of a service road. The streetscape is free to showcase cottage style architecture, with garage doors and driveways shielded from view.

“CertainTeed offers a great variety of siding colors, textures and profiles,” says Carla Goodknight, Principal Architect of CJ Architects. “The Monogram and Cedar Impressions siding fit very well with the cottage-style architectural look we are trying to achieve.”

Chinburg Builders began construction of The Cottages at Forest Ridge in late 2006 and have now completed six of the projected eight homes, which are priced between $369,000 and $389,000. In addition to the aesthetic charms of a bygone era, the cottages offer modern-day energy efficiency and an ideal residence for commuters, located within a one-hour drive of Manchester, N.H., Boston and Portland, Maine. The development is slated for completion this fall.

Installed by siding contractor Lajoie’s Aluminum & Vinyl, of Somerworth, N.H., the CertainTeed vinyl siding has already received rave reviews from potential homebuyers, as well as Chinburg Builders, for its realistic, wood-like appearance.

“One of the benefits of the CertainTeed vinyl siding is that it doesn’t look like vinyl,” says Jennifer Chinburg, Marketing Director of Chinburg Builders. “It looks more like authentic wood siding than any other vinyl siding products I’ve seen out there, and they give our cottage homes a really classic look. We’re very pleased.”

Offering a long-lasting, durable product, CertainTeed vinyl siding requires no painting or caulking, thus contributing to the sustainability of any project. In addition, CertainTeed vinyl siding products help building professionals qualify toward credits for The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Green Building Guidelines.

About CertainTeed

Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Company, the firm made its slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," which quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.

Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 7,000 employees and more than 70 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2007, the group had consolidated sales of more than $3 billion. www.certainteed.com.